Brentford

I’m now living in Brentford in what has become a rather fashionable place to be. Brand new apartments costing half a million overlook the canal. The new pontoon moorings beneath the apartments are starting to fill up with boats and there are decent BW facilities for passing boaters. It’s long been a favourite area of mine to go walking, to where the Grand Union meets the Thames and then along the river to Hammersmith or Kew. I could get a bit comfy here. There was a waterways festival at Brentford Lock on Saturday. Hillingdon Narrowboat Trust were giving boat rides and the BW patrol boat and the IWA were all present and correct. There was a small farmers market selling excellent smoked salmon pate, quiche and game pies. Unfortunately it tipped down with rain and I’m sure that kept a lot of people away. On the way down to Brentford I went through several of the locks at Hanwell with the patrol boat – and was politely told off for leaving a gate open. Sorry! Here’s a photo of them putting a warning on an unlicenced cruiser. Brentford is the last stop on the Grand Union Canal before the Tidal Thames. Here’s the view from Thames Lock and an empty looking stretch of river.